Top structure for vehicles



Patented Oct. 27, 1931 ALEXIS KELLNER, or BERLIN, GERMANY TOP STRUCTUREFOR VEHICLES Application filed October 23; 1e29, Serial No.

This invention relates to folding top struc-- tures for vehiclespreferably for the called convertible type of motor car, the object being to produce a simple and efficient top structure which may be easilyand rapidly raised when so desired.

One feature provides an efficient structure having a front portion tospan the-usual side exposures or windows. Said front portion is toconstitute an essentially self-sustaining or cantilever contruction verymuch desirable for instance in cases where said front portion is doubledup by means of hinges or the like. The cantilever construction will notrequire intermediate supporting means generally found to prevent saggingof said hinges or joints.

Another feature employs individual telescopic or encased spring membersat each side to expedite the raising of said front portion, preferablyin addition to other customary springs applied to the basic rear portionof the top, all to allow quick handling of the entire structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the front portion extendswith the aid of the associated novel spring-arrangement, while thetelescopic members anchored upon the rear portion or main frame willreach their limit of expansion, so as to take over the function of astrut which will brace the said front portion.

Another feature provides means for easily lowering the top to inactiveposition.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a motor-car with the top structure in raised position.

Fig. 2 shows the initial operation when folding the top structure.

Fig. 3 shows the initial operation when raising the top structure.

Figs. 4: and 5 are parts sectional details of 5 the telescope membersshowing the encased spring in two difierent states of expansion.

Fig. 6 shows a latch constituting a refinement of the construction.

The numeral 1 indicates the vehicle body 50 upon which is mounted thenovel folding top 401,761, and in Germany January 11, 1929.

structure. Swingably arranged on either side of the vehicle body are themain sup porting members or columns 2, each having fastened to its lowerend a rearwardl inclined arm 3 by means of which to be pivoted at 4 uponthe body. lVhile in raised position i the columns 2 may be secured byusual coach joints'5. The 'rear of the top covering is held in place bythe well known swingable rear bows 6 and 7. Linked to each of the twoswingable columns 2 are the rear elements 8 of two cant rail membersforming the front structure of the top, said elements 8 being connectedthrough hinges 9 with the front elements 10 of said cant rail members.Moreover there are provided links 11 and 12 of a parallel linkconnection, said links 11 having extensions to terminate in the crossmembers 13 to support the top covering.

According to the invention there is provided a telescopic memberorspring between each of the swingable columns 2 and the associated cantrail members. The telescope members or springs may include a tube member1 pivoted upon the swingable column 2 and an associated plunger 15 to bepivoted upon the'front element 10 of said cant rail members. Thread 16is provided upon the front end of the tube member 14: upon which fitsthe nut or cap 17. VVit-h the top being in full active position, thepiston 18 fixed upon the plunger 15 will abut against the inside of cap17, while now the spring element 19 proper is left practically withouttension, all the conditions as just described being ex- 8 plained moreclearly hereinafter.

The function of a swingable member or latch 26 coupled with the hinge 9between the elements 8 and 10 also is to be explained in the following.

} Thefront ledge of the top structure when inactive position will restupon columns 20. By; virtue of its particular construction, thetopstructure needs no support at the joint between the elements 8 and10, hence even with the top up, thereis no need for usual windowgu'id'es:21 and 22to be turned up to form a support.

-Usual' spring means or a preferred tele- 100 Min-.4

scope springs 23 m'ay also serve as an aid in raismg the columns 2.

Tension upon the top structure is a suitable top covering 2 L made upof. fabric, leather or the-like. "A strapf allows the top structure tobe pulled from its active to its folded position.

lows

ii Inorder to raise. the top, first the front element 10 of the cantrail members as well as the" members 11 and 12 of the ,parallel linkconnection are to be brought into the Figure :3 position, this operationbeing effectively aided by the telescope members'l l and 15 At this.point it should be noted that the "telethe rear-portion the frontportion also reaches 7 its extended position, the telescope springmember '14:, 15 effectively causing the front I The mechanism is'to behandled as fol-.

scope spring reaches a dead: centre position tor is now enabled tocompletely fold the entire top structure. 1 7

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

Folding top structure for a vehicle having a windshield comprisingcolumns pivotally connectedto the body ofthe. vehicle to fold thereon,cant rails each comprising a member hinged at one end to one of saidcolumns and a second member hinged'at one :endto the free end of saidfirst member' and adapted to' be secured at its other {end to thewindshield, telescoping -memberseach hinged at one end to one of saidcolumns and at the other endto one of'sa d second cant rail members, aspring housed in one of sa d telescoping members tending to hold saidmembers in extended relation, and means for limiting the relativeseparating movement of said telescoping members whereby said members actas a tension member when in extended relation to support said secondcant rail members 7 r In testimony whereofI-aflix my signature.

- ALEXIS KELLNER.

part of the .niembers 10. to rest upon the 1 columns 20. This beingaccomplished, the

telescope-spring member 15,14takes the posi tionas per Fig. 4. r Thespring 19 then has noztension while: the tube member '14 and the plunger15 take the part of a strut preventin the members 8 and 10 from saggingthrong downwardly,

The arrangement of this 40 strut does away w1th the centre support whichnormally is employed to carry the r I hinges 9 when the top is up. Thatis to say the window guides 21, '22 mag remain in their lowered positioneven wit the topstructure beingraised. To adjust the length of thetelescope members 14, 15 in their function as a strut, the nut 17threaded upon said tube member 14: may be adjusted. The

further the nut 17 proceeds upon the tube against nut 17 thus shorteningthe strut '14,.15. l

Fig. Bishows an intermediate position of the telescope spring 14,15,.whe'rethe spring ,-first the front vis held under some tension. p Inorderto lower the to members. 10 are to be slig tly lifted to bebroughtintofthe Figure '2 position, :jInthis member, the quickerthepiston' 18 will abut 1 position the said latch or support-261mmmallyswung down, is now to be turned'up'so as 'to engage under link 12of the parallel link connection. This will prevent the mem- 7 l here 10from collapsin'gwhen the operator 7 i I i has turned his attention tothe rearpartiof ["65 'the topu By pulling the strap 25 th 4 i

